Achievements and challenges of the communal office of hygiene in Algeria: Case of Wilaya of Bechar. 2015-2017

Abstract

The Communal Hygiene Office (CHO) is a technical service part of the town, responsible for ensuring the cleanliness and public safety of the population. In this work, a retrospective study of the missions of the Municipal or Communal Hygiene Service of Bechar (Algeria) for the period from 2015 to 2017 is made according to the decree 87-146 of June 30 (1987) relative to the creation of the CHO. The results showed the role of CHO in hygiene and public health, prevention of food poisoning, control of waterborne diseases and zoonotic diseases which rate 60 % of missions (average of 6 inspections per year) aim at hygiene and sanitation in food-related commercial premises. There is an increase in the number of commercial premises due to the growth of the city and that the CHO tries to be dynamic towards this development. Moreover, the improvement in commercial premises with the awareness of the tradesmen is remarkable. This is attributed to the role of CHO in awareness and prevention action rather than repressive action. The authorities must provide the CHO with all the materials and human resources to facilitate its work and to increase its profitability and efficiency.